Well, I'm gonna try to formulate a recipe here for PtE based on this recipe: http://wiki.homebrewersassociation.org/PlinyTheElderCloneImperialIPA Here's what I just made: http://hopville.com/recipe/1646202 Probably way off but my first attempt. Note, I want to use the new Marris Otter Extract from Northern Brewer for the second listing of the Pilsen extract, it's just not in the Hopville database yet. It has the same ratio roughly as the AG recipe I based it off, with 45% pale and 39% M.O.
interesting recipe, the clone recipe written by Vinnie C. makes no mention of maris otter: http://www.beersmith.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3007.0;attach=597
I would not use Maris Otter in this beer at all - way too sweet in such a clean beer. Take a look at this recipe and you are probably 95% of the way there. http://farmhousebrewingsupply.fmtemp.com/ProdImages/1Pliny the Elder clone PDF-1.pdf I would just use Extra Light DME for 85% of the fermentables. 4% C-40, 4% Carapils, and 7% table sugar.
It's strange that there's any discrepancy in this recipe at all. Vinnie's been very open about his recipe and how to clone it. He's about a phone call away from coming over and helping you brew the beer.
Wow very cool of them to do that. So basically just 87% light extract and same specialties. I can use hopville to match OG and hop %'s exactly. Thanks for the info guys =)
This is what I used when I made a PtE clone batch back in June for a 4th of July party: 8 lbs LLME 0.5 lbs LDME 1 lbs Maltodextrin 0.5 lbs Crystal 40L (steeping) 2 oz Cascade (steeping) 2 oz Magnum @90 1 oz Simcoe @60 1 oz Columbus @30 1 oz Centennial (aroma) 1 oz Simcoe (aroma) 2 oz Columbus (dry hop in secondary) 1 oz Centennial (dry hop in secondary) 1 oz Simcoe (dry hop in secondary) The beer itself tasted and smelled phenomenal to me and my friends at the party. The color was a bit darker compared to PtE, so the next time I make it, I'll save half the LLME for a late addition. I actually had a local microbrewery brewer specifically hunt me down during the party and said "Awesome beer, I'd pay $10-12 a bottle for this." Made my day.
I don't doubt that the recipe above would make an excellent beer but I am not sure the maltodextrin is necessary. Most extracts produce a beer that already has enough body, that you don't need maltodex unless you are really shooting for a thick beer or want to counteract adjuncts. And, 1 lb of maltodex is a lot! My suspicion is that replacing it in the recipe with DME will give you something closer to the dryness of PtE. Also you should use yeast and for this type of beer I suggest a big pitch of WY1056 or WLP001.
Here you go, they worked with Vinnie: http://morebeer.com/view_product/18436//Vinnies_"Pliny_the_Elder"_Double_IPA_-_Extract_Beer_Kit
Interesting. I'll use half the maltodextrin or DME next time. Thanks for the tip. Also, I used WLP090 San Diego Super Yeast.
The recipe above with the cascade hops steeped looks like it is based off of the first generation recipe that Vinnie gave to homebrewers, where there were hops (Warrior IIRC) in the mash. Steeping with the specialty grains would be the extract technique of "Mash Hopping". The second generation recipe that Vinnie gave to homebrewers did not have any Mash hops.
Vinnie published a Double IPA article in 2009 Zymurgy with the Pliny all grain and extract equivalent recipes. It's a free download here: http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/attachments/0000/6351/doubleIPA.pdf
